Katya Levental is the fourth generation in her family dynasty of famous Russian artists to emerge as an independent talent in her own right. Katya was educated at the Moscow State Surikov Art Institute in Russia from 1984-1990 where she graduated with honors and received an MFA in painting and theater design. She was also nominated for the Gold Medal of the Academy of Art.
Over the years Katya has worked as Art Director on several theatrical and television productions in Russia. Much of this early work was completed while she was still at the Academy. Since graduating she has lived between the United States and Russia. Notable galleries in both countries have exhibited Katya Levental paintings, where she received critical acclaim.
Her art work combines the craftsmanship of classical Russian training with “a magical realism” of American visual tradition. Katya first solo exhibition in the United States was held at the Alla Rogers Gallery in Georgetown, followed by the Henri Gallery, Dupont Circle Washington DC, at the Torpedo Art Factory in Alexandria, VA, and numerous other galleries throughout the country. Together with her father, Valery Levental, acclaimed artist and set designer for the Bolshoi Theatre, she had a two-artist show at the Grand Gallery, SOHO, New York, followed by another two-artist exhibit at Setton Gallery New Haven CT.
Katya has never severed the ties with the Russian art scene, she continues to show her art in Moscow, where she maintains a studio and is a member of Moscow Artists Union. Her paintings are held in private collections in Paris, London, Moscow, New York, Barcelona, Nice, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. Katya’s work has received reviews in Washington Post, ARTnews, Interior design magazine, Where Magazine, New Haven register, Baltimore Sun, Villager, Jewish Times, Theatre Magazine, Komsomolskaya Pravda, and been featured on Russian Television
Katya has also established a highly successful career as a muralist, creating murals and frescos for many substantial private residences and commercial spaces in New York, Baltimore, Washington DC, Palm Beach, FL, Russia, France and Spain. Together with her team Katya applies her artistic vision and training in fine arts to create unique living and working environment for her clients. She has been commissioned to create murals for commercial spaces including the US Mint, IBM headquarters and in collaboration with the Alexander Popovich Studio created frescos for clients in New York, and Palm Beach Florida. Her company has created Christmas windows displays for Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lord and Taylor in NY City, and Marshall’s Fields in Chicago IL.
During her early years in America she taught Art History at the Hebrew University in Baltimore Maryland. Later she has concentrated on giving private instructions to many aspiring artists at her studios both in Russia and the United States. She holds workshops for young artists at her farm in MD, where she teaches painting and drawing. Katya lives between New York City, Moscow, and her Maryland farm where she paints in her barn studio, and rides her beloved horses.